View Full Version : Flourescent Question
morleyz
12-31-2002, 8:39 AM
A friend has a 10G with one of those cheapo incandescent hoods that takes like a 15W appliance bulb. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has used those flourescent bulbs the screw into a standard incandescent socket? I found some at Home Depot that would fit into his canopy and was rated at 40W.
Additionally, this got me to thinking...how would these bulbs compare to standard flourescent tubes? They have these nice small bulbs with 75W output...you could make some very high output lighting for very cheap.
Thanks.
slipknottin
12-31-2002, 9:29 AM
Most of them have Low spectrum values... like ~3000K.
I know a couple members have found them at 6500K.
Id say they have half the light output per watt that other fluorescent bulbs have. The light is also horribly difficult to focus on a specific area without reflecting most of the light back into the bulbs.
Originally posted by slipknottin
Most of them have Low spectrum values... like ~3000K.
I thought most of those bulbs were in the 4700k range :confused:
slipknottin
12-31-2002, 10:16 AM
they might be... the ones i saw yesterday at home depot were around 3000k.
Im sure there are some out there around 4700K too.
I'm not really sure either - just thought I saw the 4700k number on a few websites a while back...and maybe on RC too??
Either way, most of those bulbs will be very 'yellow'.
morleyz
12-31-2002, 10:55 AM
I guess it was a nice thought...I'll have to see if I can maybe we can put something together that's affordable for him.
slipknottin
12-31-2002, 11:06 AM
i did a search on the old boards for you...
heres the website i came up with http://www.1000bulbs.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=1
you want to buy the 5100 K bulbs
tyler
12-31-2002, 11:30 AM
usually, the output they have listed on the box is how it would copare to an incandescent. it will probably say something like 65 watts, uses on 17 watts or something along those lines. if you want something that 's not so yellow, you can find bulbs rated around 6500k, but they're not common in all areas. i think consumer electric makes a 19 watt 6500k bulb.
morleyz
12-31-2002, 7:41 PM
Originally posted by slipknottin
Most of them have Low spectrum values... like ~3000K.
I know a couple members have found them at 6500K.
Id say they have half the light output per watt that other fluorescent bulbs have. The light is also horribly difficult to focus on a specific area without reflecting most of the light back into the bulbs.
OK...well I've definitely found plenty of bulbs withing different spectrum values....so I don't think that is an issue, but why do you think they would be any different than a standard flourescent? The bulbs really aren't _that_ large, most seem to be in the 1.5" - 1.75" range. I was just thinking if I used like a 75W would I get 30W of useful light? Maybe add a custom reflector to get some extra output.
I'm really trying to find an affordable solution for the guy but I don't want to recommend something that he's going to be unhappy with.
goldfish freak
12-31-2002, 8:12 PM
A member here named GDominy has done this type of thing on his 22 gallon tank. Check out his website http://aquafiend.plantedtank.net/22g.html
Cichlid Woman
01-02-2003, 10:40 AM
I think you've been lucky enough to stumble onto compact fluorescent bulbs.
slipknottin
01-02-2003, 11:34 AM
Those are perfectly fine for a inexpensive solution. They will provide much much more light output than an incandescent bulb will.
a friend of mine and i just got 6 6500k 13 watt bulbs shipped with insurance for $20 off of ebay. 26 watts of compact flouro should light my 5 gallon up quite nicely
superjohnny
01-03-2003, 4:36 PM
Tyler that's 5w/gallon. I hope your fish have sunglasses :D
there aren't fish in there as of yet. i'm going to have salvinia covering the surface, and my reflectors aren't exactly high quality. i really don't think it should be too bad for the fishes. though it was bright with 10 watts pc...
karfixer
01-04-2003, 5:49 PM
I've been using those bulbs for months in my 20 gal out-grow tanks-3 each- for my baby Gold Gouramis. The color isn't the greatest, but the corkscrew and cambomba grow like crazy. I also used one in my 5 gal tank when they were tiny fry, but used some black window screen material to cut down on the light. HTH Steve
Dwarfnut
01-06-2003, 9:04 PM
Congrats on finding a relatively cheap and easy solution to lighting up a tank! But here are some things I've learned along the way! First is that there are quite a few bulbs out there... not are bulbs are equal! The local Home Depot carries several kind and most are considered 'soft white' and tose are the lower temp rating and somewhat yellow looking bulbs. I then found another brand that were considered 'daylight' bulbs and those are much better! They are rated at 6,500 K temp, come in several different wattages and are like $7 ea. I'm using them on two different 20 gallon planted tanks and really like the look. They have a crisp, cool look that really seems to bring colors out and plants grow great with these!
Good luck
Bill C.